Srinagar, Jun 15 (KNO): The administration of Jammu & Kashmir has set the ball rolling for appointment of chairperson and members of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
To begin with, the J&K’s Social Welfare Department has constituted a five-member committee to shortlist candidates for key statutory positions of chairperson and members of the body entrusted with the protection of child rights.
Details available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveal that the committee headed by Bhawani Rakwal, secretary in Social Welfare Department, will scrutinize and shortlist the candidates who have applied for the post of chairperson and members of the committee.
The other members of the sub-panel include Anil Kumar Dogra( Director Finance, Social Welfare Department),Harvinder Kour(Mission Director, Mission Vatsalya), Sanjay Pandita( under secretary, Social Welfare Department ) and Rafia Nabi(under secretary, Social Welfare Department).
The Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act-2019 became applicable to Jammu & Kashmir on October 31, 2019- the appointed day for reorganization of erstwhile state of J&K.
On October 21, 2022, the Jammu & Kashmir Government unveiled Rules for implementation of the law in the UT.
As per rules, the chairperson and members shall be appointed by the Government on recommendation of a three-member selection panel to be constituted by it.
The candidates shall be selected on the basis of merit and interview by the selection committee.
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights shall comprise a chairperson and six members, out of which at least two shall be women, from fields of education, child health, care, welfare or child development, juvenile justice or care of neglected or marginalized children or children with disabilities, elimination of child labour or children in distress, child psychology or sociology and laws relating to children.
The commission is empowered to analyse existing law, policy and practice to assess compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Child, undertake inquiries and produce reports on any aspect of policy and practice affecting and comment on proposed new legislation from a child rights perspective.
It shall also study Union Territory policies that impact children and ensure that they comply with international child rights standards—(KNO)